FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES INC
S-3, 1999-07-21
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 21, 1999.

                                                       Registration No. 333-____
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------
                          FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                   <C>
          GEORGIA                             7372                             58-1588291
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)        Classification Number)             Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                          2859 Paces Ferry Road, #1000
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30339
                                 (770) 431-1200
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                                RICHARD T. BROCK
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                          Firstwave Technologies, Inc.
                          2859 Paces Ferry Road, #1000
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30339
                                 (770) 431-1200
                (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                              --------------------
                          Copies of Communications to:
                             G. WILLIAM SPEER, Esq.
                     Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP
                                 Sixteenth Floor
                           191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30303
                                 (404) 572-6600

      APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

                              --------------------

     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to divided or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

         If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

      If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] ____________________

      If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering. [ ] _________________________

         If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ] _______________________


                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of each class of securities           Amount          Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum             Amount of
            to be                           to be           offering price per       aggregate offering        registration
         registered                       registered               unit                     price                     fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                <C>                      <C>                       <C>
Warrant                                    1 Warrant              N/A(1)                    N/A (1)                  N/A (1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, no par value per share,
issuable upon exercise of the Warrant    16,668 shares          $2.00(2)                $33,336.00(2)                $9.27(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


(1)      No separate registration fee is required in accordance with Rule
         457(g).

(2)      Pursuant to Rule 457(g), the proposed offering price and registration
         fee are based upon the price per share at which the warrant may be
         exercised.

                              --------------------

         THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2





P R O S P E C T U S


                          FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                     16,668 SHARES OF FIRSTWAVE COMMON STOCK
           WARRANT TO PURCHASE 16,668 SHARES OF FIRSTWAVE COMMON STOCK
                              --------------------


         This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of (i) a warrant to
purchase 16,668 shares of the common stock, no par value per share, of Firstwave
Technologies, Inc. and (ii) the issuance and sale of 16,668 shares of Firstwave
common stock upon the exercise of the warrant. The warrant, and underlying
shares of Firstwave common stock, being registered may be offered and sold from
time to time by the selling shareholder listed in the section "Selling
Shareholder" below. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the
warrant or the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock by the selling
shareholder other than $33,336 representing the exercise price of the warrant.

         The selling shareholder may offer its warrant or any of the underlying
shares of Firstwave common stock through public or private transactions, on or
off the United States exchanges at either prevailing market prices or privately
negotiated prices.

         Firstwave common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System
and trades on this exchange under the trading symbol "FSTW." On July 19, 1999,
the closing price of one share of Firstwave common stock on the Nasdaq National
Market System was $8.63.

         Our principal  executive offices are located at 2859 Paces Ferry Road,
#1000, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 and our telephone number is (770) 431-1200.

         INVESTING IN THE WARRANT AND FIRSTWAVE COMMON STOCK INVOLVES CERTAIN
RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5.

                              --------------------

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), nor any state
securities commission, has approved or disapproved of the securities to be
issued under this prospectus or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

                              --------------------

                 The date of this prospectus is July ___, 1999.



<PAGE>   3


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                              Page
<S>                                                                                                           <C>
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.............................................................................2
THE COMPANY.....................................................................................................3
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS............................................................4
RISK FACTORS....................................................................................................5
   NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE........................................................................5
   RISKS OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.................................................................................5
   DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY.........................................................................5
   COMPETITION..................................................................................................5
   FACTORS AFFECTING OPERATING RESULTS; POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS.............................6
   ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK..................................................................................6
USE OF PROCEEDS.................................................................................................6
SELLING SHAREHOLDER.............................................................................................6
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED......................................................................7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION............................................................................................7
LEGAL MATTERS...................................................................................................8
EXPERTS.........................................................................................................8
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   4



WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or
other information that we file with the SEC at:

         -        the public reference room of the SEC, Room 1024, Judiciary
                  Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549; and

         -        the public reference facilities of the SEC's regional offices
                  at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York
                  10048 or Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
                  Chicago, Illinois 60661.

Some of these locations may charge a prescribed or modest fee for copies. You
may obtain information on the operation of the SEC public reference room in
Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, you may
access any document we file with the SEC on its internet web site at
http://www.sec.gov.

         We filed a registration statement on Form S-3 to register under the
Securities Act of 1933 the warrant to purchase 16,668 shares of Firstwave common
stock and the 16,668 underlying shares of Firstwave common stock. This
prospectus is filed as a part of the registration statement. As allowed by SEC
rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information you can find in
the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement.

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" certain documents we
file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document we file separately with the SEC. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus, except for any information superseded by information in this
prospectus or in any later filed document that is also incorporated by
reference. The information that we file with the SEC after the date of this
prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained or
incorporated by reference in prospectus.

         We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future
filings we will make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         (1)      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
                  31, 1998;

         (2)      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
                  1999; and

         (3)      The description of Firstwave common stock contained in our
                  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section
                  12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         You may request a copy of any of these filings, at no cost, by writing
or telephoning us at the following address:

                                Richard T. Brock
                                President and Chief Executive Officer
                                Firstwave Technologies, Inc.
                                2859 Paces Ferry Road, #1000
                                Atlanta, Georgia 30339
                                (770) 431-1200



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   5



         This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the
SEC (Registration No. 333-___). You should rely only on the information
incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement. We
have authorized no one to provide you with different information. The selling
shareholder will not make an offer of its warrant or shares of Firstwave common
stock in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that
the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date
other than the date on the front of those documents.


                                   OUR COMPANY

         Effective March 1, 1998, we changed our name from Brock International,
Inc. to Firstwave Technologies, Inc. This name change results from the
acquisition of Netgain Corporation and expansion strategies including the launch
of a new product suite, Netgain Enterprise. We embraced the entrepreneurial
spirit and advanced technology of the energetic Netgain team, while leveraging
our strengths as an established international software company. We provide
innovative customer relationship management (CRM) solutions to enterprises
located throughout the world. We market and support three product lines: Netgain
Enterprise, Takecontrol(R) and Firstwave for Unix.

         Netgain Enterprise is an Internet-based CRM system designed to enable
companies to leverage the world wide web and its capabilities to create and
maintain profitable, mutually beneficial relationships. Netgain Enterprise will
encompass activities and processes with prospects and customers throughout their
entire relationship lifecycle from pre-sales marketing to post-sales service.
The first component of the Netgain Enterprise suite, Netgain Sales, was released
in September 1998. Takecontrol is a Microsoft(R) Windows-based, integrated
client/server CRM solution that meets the need to automate marketing, sales and
customer service operations for companies in multiple industries. Firstwave for
Unix product line is a traditional UNIX, character-based CRM solution. All
product lines assist companies in maximizing their customers' satisfaction and
thereby maximizing lifetime customer value. Our software products operate on
personal computers and a wide range of server platforms.

         Our long-term vision is to create a next-generation CRM platform that
leverages Internet technologies to bring value to users in the form of longer,
more profitable relationships with our customers. Our CRM solutions are designed
to bridge communication gaps between a company's internal departments such as
marketing, sales and technical support and its outside constituents such as
customers, vendors and business partners. Conventional CRM applications are
often found by users to be complex, expensive to maintain and difficult to use.
As a result, the incidence of incomplete implementations and failure to meet
established expectations is quite high. Furthermore, due to the limitations of
client/server technologies, these systems have not extended critical information
to customers, indirect channels, partners or other interested parties who exist
outside the boundaries of the corporation. The evolution and maturation of
several technologies, in combination with the emergence of the Internet as a
factor in commercial activities, has created an environment of new possibilities
for CRM solutions. We believe that the future environment will be one in which
customers will demand:

         -        Relationships be based in knowledge
                  -        Companies must have knowledge of customer's needs and
                           wants
                  -        Companies must provide full, easy access to
                           information about its goods and services
         -        Anyone representing an enterprise must be equally informed and
                  prepared to serve the customers' needs
         -        Customers will determine the most appropriate means of
                  interaction with the companies with whom they do business
         -        Speed of interaction will be the key to successful
                  relationships
                  -        Identify needs




                                      -3-
<PAGE>   6




                  -        Determine solution
                  -        Deliver solution

         Netgain Enterprise was created to address this environment and was
designed to enable companies to pursue a new standard of excellence in their
interactions with their customers. It leverages its architecture,
e-Framework(TM) which deploys state-of-the-art Internet technologies and
integration standards, to gather, store and share customer-related information
among the entire extended enterprise, including the customers themselves.
Netgain Enterprise enables all users to have a single view of the customer by
integrating information from multiple sources throughout the enterprise, and
from external on-line sources of data. Because the Internet is the
communications platform for Netgain, the information can be easily distributed
to any users that interact with customers including marketers, direct sales
reps, customer service reps, channel reps and others, regardless of their
physical location. As such, Netgain Enterprise facilitates the collaborative
efforts of the entire company and its agents in generating a focused and unified
CRM effort. Netgain Enterprise's automation capabilities will enable users to
analyze customer requirements and interact with them appropriately - with the
appropriate information, at the appropriate time, using the appropriate medium.

         Over time, we will release components of Netgain Enterprise to address
all phases of a customer relationship - pre-sales, sales and post-sales
activities. The revenues and relationships of our mature existing businesses
provide a sound platform for launching new products and services. We remain
dedicated to the thousands of people who are currently using our products in
over 20 countries. We are committed to continued support and development of our
products and are developing a more modern version of Takecontrol using the
Microsoft Visual Basic environment. We will continue to maintain our Unix
products, provide award-winning Takecontrol client/server applications, support
Year 2000 requirements, remain compatible with the most popular database
managers and operating systems, and provide personal service whenever our
customers need it.

         Our company was launched in October 1984 as Brock Control Systems, Inc.
Founded by Richard T. Brock, our company was a pioneer in the sales automation
market and an early developer of enterprise customer management systems. Our
company went public at the end of March 1993. In February 1996, our company
changed its name to Brock International, Inc., to reflect our growing worldwide
market reach. In March 1998, our company changed its name to Firstwave
Technologies, Inc. Since our inception, we have licensed thousands of users in
hundred of enterprises throughout the Americas, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

              CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
         This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference include
"forward-looking statements," as such term is defined in Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
that reflect our current expectations regarding our future results, performance,
prospects and opportunities. We have tried to identify these forward-looking
statements by using words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates,"
"intends," "estimates," "plans," "will" and similar expressions. These
forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us
and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities for 1999 and
beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these
forward-looking statements. The important factors which may affect our future
results and could cause those results to differ materially from the results
expressed or reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, the factors discussed in the section "Risk Factors" below and other
factors identified from time to time in our reports and other filings with the
SEC.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   7

                                  RISK FACTORS

         In addition to the other information included or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the following risk
factors when evaluating an investment in the warrant or in shares of Firstwave
common stock.

         New Products and Technological Change. The market for software and
hardware support services is characterized by rapid technological advances,
changes in customer requirements and frequent new product introductions and
enhancements. Our future success depends upon our ability to enhance our current
products and develop new products that maintain technological leadership,
address the increasingly sophisticated needs of customers and achieve broad
market acceptance. In particular, we believe that we must continue to respond
quickly to customer needs for additional functionality and to ongoing advances
in hardware, operating systems and telecommunications. Any failure by us to
anticipate or respond rapidly to technological advances, new products and
enhancements and changes in customer requirements could have a material adverse
effect on our competitive position or render certain of our products obsolete or
less marketable than available alternatives. In addition, we are subject to the
risks generally associated with new product introductions and applications,
including lack of market acceptance, delays in development or failure of
products to perform as expected. In order to introduce and market new or
enhanced products successfully with minimal disruption in customer purchasing
patterns, we must manage the transition from existing products. There can be no
assurance that we will be successful in developing and marketing, on a timely
basis, product enhancements or products that respond to technological advances
by others, that our new products will adequately address the changing needs of
the market or that we will successfully manage product transitions. Further, the
inability to generate sufficient cash from operations or financing activities to
develop or obtain improved products and technologies could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

         Risks of Product Development. Software products as complex as those
offered by us may contain undetected errors or failures when first introduced or
when new versions are released. If software errors are discovered after
introduction, we could experience delays or lost revenues during the period
required to correct these errors. There can be no assurance that, despite
testing by us and by current and potential customers, errors will not be found
in new products or releases after commencement or commercial shipments,
resulting in loss of or delay in market acceptance, additional and unexpected
expenses to fund further product development or to add programming personnel to
complete a development project, and loss of revenue because of the inability to
sell the new product on a timely basis, any one or more of which could have a
material adverse effect on us.

         Dependence on Proprietary Technology. We rely on a combination of trade
secrets, copyright and trademark laws, non-disclosure and other contractual
provisions and technical measures to protect our proprietary rights in certain
of our products. There can be no assurance that these protections will be
adequate or that our competitors will not independently develop technologies
that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technologies.

         Competition. The market for our products is characterized by
significant price competition, and we expect that we will face increasing
pricing pressures from our current competitors. Moreover, because there are low
barriers to entry into the software market, we believe that competition will
increase in the future. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be
able to provide products that compare favorably with the products of our
competitors or that competitive pressures will not require us to reduce our
prices. Any material reduction in the price of our products would negatively
affect gross margins as a percentage of new revenue and would require us to
increase software unit sales in order to maintain net revenues.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   8


         Factors Affecting Operating Results; Potential Fluctuations in
Quarterly Results. Our quarterly operating results have in the past and may in
the future vary or decrease significantly depending on factors such as revenue
from software sales, the timing of new product and service announcements,
changes in pricing policies by us and our competitors, market acceptance of new
and enhanced versions of our products, the size and timing of significant
orders, changes in operating expenses, changes in our strategy, personnel
changes, the introduction of alternative technologies, the effect of potential
acquisitions and general economic factors. We have limited or no control over
many of these factors. Our expense levels are based, in part, on our
expectations as to future revenues. If revenue levels are below expectations, we
may be unable or unwilling to reduce expenses proportionately and operating
results are likely to be adversely affected. As a result, we believe that
period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not necessarily
meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future performance.
Due to all these factors, it is likely that in some future quarter our operating
results will be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors.
In such event, the price of Firstwave common stock will likely be adversely
affected.

         Issuance of Preferred Stock. Our Board of Directors has the authority
to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to fix the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of these
shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders. Our Board of
Directors issued 20,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with an
aggregate offering amount of $2 million in March of 1999. Our Board of Directors
has fixed the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting
rights, of these shares Series A preferred shares. The rights of the holders of
the Firstwave common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the
rights of the holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and any other
preferred stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance of the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock and any future issuances of other classes of
preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with
possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of
making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our
outstanding voting stock, thereby delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
control of our company. Furthermore, the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
has other rights, including economic rights, senior to the Firstwave common
stock, and as a result, the issuance of such stock may have a material adverse
effect on the market value of Firstwave common stock. Any future issuances of
other classes of preferred stock may have other rights, including economic
rights, senior to the Firstwave common stock, and as a result, the issuance of
such stock could have a material adverse effect on the market value of Firstwave
common stock. We may in the future adopt other measures that may have the effect
of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company. Some of
these measures may be adopted without any further vote or action by our
shareholders. We have no present plans to adopt any such measures.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the warrant, or
underlying shares of Firstwave common stock, by the selling shareholder other
than $33,336 representing the exercise price of the warrant.


                               SELLING SHAREHOLDER

         Prior to this offering, Catalysta Partners, the selling shareholder,
did not beneficially own any of our securities outstanding on the date of this
prospectus. Upon the sale by the selling shareholder of the warrant or any of
the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock and completion of this offering,
assuming the warrant or all of the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock
being offered is sold, and that no other changes in the selling shareholder's
beneficial ownership occur prior to completion of this offering, the selling
shareholder will not beneficially own the warrant or any shares of Firstwave
common stock.






                                      -6-
<PAGE>   9

         The selling shareholder may donate its warrant or some or all of the
underlying shares of Firstwave common stock or may transfer the warrant or some
or all of the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock to trusts,
partnerships or other entities they own or control. If that happens, we will add
these donees or transferees to the list of selling shareholders through a
prospectus supplement.


                   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED

         Any holder of the warrant is entitled to purchase 16,668 shares of
Firstwave common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. The warrant will
be issued to the selling shareholder in connection with and as partial
consideration for the consulting services rendered to us by the selling
shareholder. The exercise price of the warrant is subject to adjustment in the
event we effect a stock dividend, subdivision of stock and certain other
distributions described in the warrant. A copy of the warrant is filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is
incorporated herein by reference. The determination of when or whether to
exercise the warrant is within the sole discretion of the selling shareholder.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The selling shareholder and its donees or pledgees may offer the
warrant or any of the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock at various
times in one or more of the following transactions:

         -        on any of the United States securities exchanges where our
                  stock is listed, including the Nasdaq National Market System;
         -        in the over-the-counter market;
         -        in negotiated transactions;
         -        in connection with short sales of warrant or shares of
                  Firstwave common stock;
         -        by pledge to secure debts and other obligations;
         -        in connection with the writing of non-traded and
                  exchange-traded call options, in hedge transactions and in
                  settlement of other transactions in standardized or
                  over-the-counter options; or
         -        in a combination of any of the above transactions.

         The selling shareholder may sell its warrant or any of the underlying
shares of Firstwave common stock at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices
or at fixed prices.

         The selling shareholder may use broker-dealers to sell its warrant or
underlying shares of Firstwave common stock. If this happens, broker-dealers
will either receive discounts or commissions from the selling shareholder, or
they will receive commissions from purchasers of shares for whom they acted as
agents.

         The selling shareholder and the broker-dealers it uses to sell its
warrant or underlying shares of Firstwave common stock may be deemed to be
"underwriters" under the Securities Act of 1933 and any commission the
broker-dealers receive and any profits they may make in resale of the warrant or
any of the underlying shares of Firstwave common stock while acting as
principals may be deemed "underwriting discounts or commissions" under that Act.
If the broker-dealers purchase the warrant or any of the underlying shares of
Firstwave common stock from the selling shareholder for their own accounts ("as
principals"), they may make a profit by reselling the warrant or underlying
shares of Firstwave common stock.




                                      -7-
<PAGE>   10


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, our outside
legal counsel, will issue an opinion about the legality of the warrant and the
shares of Firstwave common stock being offered by this prospectus.


                                     EXPERTS

         The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   11



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

         The following is a statement of expenses to be borne by the Registrant
in connection with the warrant and underlying shares of Firstwave common stock
being registered hereby:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                                     <C>
         SEC Registration Fee.................................................................       $9.27
         Accounting Fees and Expenses.........................................................    2,500.00
         Legal Fees and Expenses..............................................................    3,500.00
         Miscellaneous........................................................................        0.00
                                                                                                 _________
         Total................................................................................   $6,009.27

</TABLE>

         The foregoing expenses, except for the SEC registration fee, are
estimated. The selling shareholder will not bear any of the foregoing expenses.

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section 14-2-850 et seq. of the Georgia Business Corporation Code and
Article 6 of the Registrant's Amended and Restated Bylaws set forth the extent
to which the Registrant's directors and officers may be indemnified by the
Registrant against liability that they may incur while serving in such capacity.
These provisions generally provide that the directors and officers of the
Registrant will be indemnified by the Registrant against any losses incurred in
connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director or officer of the Registrant or served with another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of the
Registrant if such director or officer acted in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Registrant, and with respect
to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. Under these provisions, the Registrant may provide advances for
expenses incurred in defending any such action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay such
advances unless it is ultimately determined that he is entitled to
indemnification by the Registrant.

         The Registrant maintains an insurance policy insuring the Registrant
and its directors and officers against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

         The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference
herein:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number   Description
- ------   -----------
<S>      <C>
3.1      Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended. (1)

3.2      Amended and Restated Bylaws. (2)
</TABLE>





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   12

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>
4.1      See Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 for provisions of our Amended and Restated
         Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and our Amended and Restated
         Bylaws defining the rights of holders of Firstwave common stock.

4.2      Form of Warrant Certificate.

5.1      Opinion of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP as to the legality of
         the securities being registered.

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2     Consent of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP is contained in its
         opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

24.1     Power of Attorney (see signature page to this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>

- -------------------------------
(1)      Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 3.1 in our Quarterly Report
         on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-21202) for the quarter ended March 31, 1999
         filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 1999.

(2)      Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 3(b) in our Registration
         Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-55939).


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                  statement:

                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
                           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                           arising after the effective date of the registration
                           statement (or the most recent post-effective
                           amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                           aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                           information set forth in the registration statement;
                           and

                  (iii)    To include any material information with respect to
                           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
                           the registration statement or any material change to
                           such information in the registration statement.

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

         (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
                  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating




                                      -10-
<PAGE>   13


                  to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                  fide offering thereof.

         (3)      To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                  amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
                  unsold at the termination of the offering.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction to the questions whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   14


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on July 21, 1999.

                                   FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                   By:      /s/ Richard T. Brock
                                        --------------------------------------
                                             Richard T. Brock
                                             President and
                                             Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints RICHARD T. BROCK, as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                                  DATE
                    ---------                                       -----                                  ----

   <S>                                             <C>                                            <C>

   /s/ Richard T. Brock                            President and Chief Executive Officer          July  21, 1999
   -------------------------------------------
                Richard T. Brock


   /s/ Judith A. Vitale                            Vice President of Finance and                  July  21, 1999
   ------------------------------------------      Administration (principal accounting
                Judith A. Vitale                   officer and principal financial officer)


   /s/ James R. Porter                             Chairman of the Board                          July  21, 1999
   ------------------------------------------
                James R. Porter
</TABLE>




                                      -12-
<PAGE>   15

<TABLE>
   <S>                                             <C>                                            <C>
   /s/ Roger A. Babb                               Director                                       July 21, 1999
   ------------------------------------------
                  Roger A. Babb


   /s/ John F. Keane                               Director                                       July 21, 1999
   ------------------------------------------
                  John F. Keane


   /s/ Michael T. McNeight                         Director                                       July 21, 1999
   ------------------------------------------
               Michael T. McNeight
</TABLE>





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   16


                       EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number         Description
- ------         -----------
<S>            <C>
3.1            Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended. (1)

3.2            Amended and Restated Bylaws. (2)

4.1            See Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 for provisions of our Amended and
               Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and our Amended
               and Restated Bylaws defining rights of holders of Firstwave
               common stock.

4.2            Form of Warrant Certificate.

5.1            Opinion of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP as to the
               legality of the securities being registered.

23.1           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2           Consent of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP is contained in
               its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

24.1           Power of Attorney (see signature page to this Registration
               Statement).
</TABLE>


- -------------------------------
(1)      Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 3.1 in our Quarterly Report
         on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-21202) for the quarter ended March 31, 1999
         filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 1999.

(2)      Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3(b) in our Registration Statement
         on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-55939).

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
                          FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                              --------------------

                             STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

                              --------------------


NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK: 16,668               WARRANT CERTIFICATE NO. 1
DATE OF ISSUANCE: MAY ___, 1999                DATE OF EXPIRATION: MAY ___, 2001

                  1.     Grant. For value received, Firstwave Technologies,
Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants to _______________
("__________" and, along with its successors and assigns, "Holder"), at the
exercise price set forth in Section 3 below, the right to purchase, at any time,
16,668 shares (the "Warrant Shares") (subject to adjustment as set forth in
Section 5 below) of the Company's common stock, no par value per share (the
"Shares"). This Warrant is issued in connection with and as partial
consideration for the consulting services to be rendered by ___________ to the
Company.

                  2.     Exercise Period. The Holder may exercise, but only in
full and not in part, the purchase rights represented by this Warrant at any
time on or after the Date of Issuance but not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern
time, on the Date of Expiration identified above.

                  3.     Exercise Price. The aggregate exercise price of this
Warrant (the "Exercise Price") shall be the number of Warrant Shares multiplied
by $2.00, subject to adjustment, if any, pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

                  4.     Reservation of Shares. The Company shall, at all times,
reserve and keep available for issuance and delivery upon the exercise of this
Warrant such number of its authorized but unissued Shares or other securities of
the Company as the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith estimates
will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of this Warrant. Upon such
issuance, all such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable,
free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges and other encumbrances
or restrictions on sale and free and clear of all preemptive rights.

                  5.     Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Warrant
Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares that may be
purchased under this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 5.

                  (a)    If the number of Shares outstanding at any time after
the Date of Issuance is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares
(excluding any Shares issued in payment of dividends to holders of the Company's
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or any other series of Preferred Stock) or
by a subdivision or split-up of the Shares, then, on the date such payment is
made or such change is effective, the Exercise Price per share shall be
appropriately decreased and



<PAGE>   2

the number of Warrant Shares issuable hereunder shall be increased in proportion
to such increase in outstanding shares. If the number of Shares outstanding at
any time after the Date of Issuance is decreased by a combination of the
outstanding Shares, then, on the effective date of such combination, the
Exercise Price per share shall be appropriately increased and the number of
Warrant Shares issuable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such
decrease in outstanding Shares.

                  (b)    If this Warrant shall be exercised after any merger,
consolidation, exchange of equity securities, or reorganization of the Company,
or other similar event (an "Extraordinary Event"), occurring after the Date of
Issuance, as a result of which Shares shall be changed into the same or a
different number of equity securities of the same or another class or classes of
securities of the Company or another entity, then the Holder exercising this
Warrant shall receive, for the total Exercise Price that would have been payable
if this Warrant had been exercised in full immediately before the Extraordinary
Event, the total number and class of equity securities or other securities that
the Holder would have received if this Warrant had been exercised immediately
before the Extraordinary Event; provided, however, that the Holder shall be
subject to the same dilution of its interests resulting from the Extraordinary
Event as any other holder of Shares.

                  6.     No Common Rights; Limitations of Liability. Prior to
exercise, this Warrant will not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other
rights as a shareholder of the Company. No provision of this Warrant, in the
absence of affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant, and no
enumeration in this Warrant of the rights or privileges of the Holder, will give
rise to any liability of such Holder for the Exercise Price.

                  7.     Exercise Procedure.

                  (a)    This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised
when the Company has received all of the following:

                           (i)      a written subscription  substantially in the
                                    form of Exhibit A attached hereto, completed
                                    and executed by the Holder;

                           (ii)     this Warrant; and

                           (iii)    payment of the total Exercise Price for the
                                    Warrant Shares to be purchased, which
                                    payment shall be made, at the option of the
                                    Holder, (i) in legal tender, or (ii) by bank
                                    cashier's or certified check, at the
                                    principal office of the Company.

                  (b)    The Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or
similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of
the Warrant Shares.

                  8.     Transfer. This Warrant shall be registered on the books
of the Company which shall be kept at the offices of the Company for that
purpose, and shall be transferable in full, but only on such books by the Holder
in person or by duly authorized attorney with written notice



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

substantially in the form of Exhibit "B" attached hereto. The Company may issue
appropriate stop orders to its transfer agent to prevent a transfer in violation
of the preceding paragraph.

                  9.     Replacement of Warrant. At the request of the Holder
and on production of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and (in the case of loss,
theft or destruction) if required by the Company, upon reasonably satisfactory
indemnification, the Company, at Holder's expense, will issue in lieu thereof a
new Warrant of like tenor.

                  10.    Governing Law. This Warrant shall be construed
according to the laws of Georgia.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed on
its behalf, in its corporate name, by its President, as of the 3rd day of May,
1999.

                                                    FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                                    By:_________________________
                                                        Name:___________________
                                                        Title:__________________





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4



                                    EXHIBIT A
                            IRREVOCABLE SUBSCRIPTION

To:      FIRSTWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

         The undersigned hereby elects to exercise its right under the attached
Warrant by purchasing _____________ shares of common stock of Firstwave
Technologies, Inc., and/or such other consideration, if any, which the
undersigned is entitled to receive, and hereby irrevocably subscribes thereto.
The certificates for such shares shall be issued in the name of, and such other
consideration, if any, shall be issued in the name of or paid or delivered to:

         -----------------------
         (Name)

         -----------------------
         (Address)

         -----------------------
         (Taxpayer Number)

         and delivered to:

         -----------------------
         (Name)

         -----------------------
         (Address)

         The Exercise Price of $_______________ is enclosed.

         Date:_________________________



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5



                                    EXHIBIT B

                                   ASSIGNMENT


       FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto:


- ------------------------------------
(Name)

- ------------------------------------
(Address)

       the attached Warrant, together with all right, title and interest therein
to purchase __________ shares of common stocks of Firstwave Technologies, Inc.,
and does hereby irrevocably appoint __________________ as attorney-in-fact to
transfer said Warrant on the books of Firstwave Technologies, Inc., with full
power of substitution in the premises.

       Done this ______ day of __________________________, _______.









                                           ------------------------------------
                                                     (Signature)

                                           ------------------------------------
                                                     (Name and title)

                                           ------------------------------------

                                           ------------------------------------
                                                                      (Address)



                                      -5-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


              [POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY LLP LETTERHEAD]

                                  July 21, 1999



Firstwave Technologies, Inc.
2859 Paces Ferry Road, #1000
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

 Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have served as counsel for Firstwave Technologies, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), of (i) a warrant (the "Warrant") to purchase
an aggregate of 16,668 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, no par value per
share, of the Company and (ii) the issuance and sale of the Shares upon the
exercise of the Warrant to be offered and sold from time to time by a certain
selling shareholder of the Company as described in the Registration Statement.
The Warrant and Shares are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities."

         We have examined and are familiar with originals or copies (certified,
photostatic or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of such documents,
corporate records and other instruments relating to the incorporation of the
Company and to the authorization for issuance of the Shares as we have deemed it
necessary and advisable.

         In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures on all originals and copies of documents we have examined, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
original documents of all certified, conformed or photostatic copies. As to
questions of fact material and relevant to our opinion, we have relied upon
certificates or representations of Company officials and of appropriate state,
local and federal officials.

         We express no opinion as to matters under or involving laws other than
the laws of the State of Georgia.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing and having regard for such
legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, it is our opinion that the
Securities have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.



<PAGE>   2

Firstwave Technologies, Inc.
July 21, 1999
Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement
Page 2


         We hereby consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and to the
filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.


                                Very truly yours,



                     POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY LLP




<PAGE>   1



                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       Consent of Independent Accountants

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of Firstwave Technologies, Inc. of our report dated
February 2, 1999 relating to the financial statements and financial statement
schedules, which appears in Firstwave Technologies, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such registration Statement.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
July 20, 1999


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